How deviantART Works

Starving artists may still have it rough, but thanks to the social networking power of the Web, at least they have each other. More specifically, they can congregate en masse through online communities such as deviantART. deviantART is one of the largest artist gatherings ever, touting more than nine million members (called "deviants" in site parlance) who upload more than 100,000 videos and photographs every day.

Although members use digital photos to display the results of their labor, deviantART isn't focused only on digital imaging. Art categories cover just about anything you can imagine, including photography, film and animation, poetry, and anime, as well as traditional crafts like sculpture, pottery, painting and drawing. Members upload pictures or videos of their work to personal galleries that guests or other members can peruse.

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Similar to other social networking Web sites, deviantART continually evolves and adds new features to satisfy current members and draw new devotees. You can interact with other artists in a plethora of ways: share comments on artwork, join discussion forums, engage in real-time chat, and much more. In that sense, the site is a work of art in and of itself, continually transforming and changing into a premier online destination much different than the fledgling site that launched in Hollywood, Calif., in 2000.

These days, deviantART needs 50 employees and a group of dedicated volunteers to keep the massive site running smoothly. Their collective efforts ensure that this vibrant artist community continues to benefit both artists and art lovers alike. Keep reading to see how deviantART works to serve artists in what may be the ultimate hipster hangout.